Trachelospermum asiaticum plant named &#39;FT01&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘FT01’ is a distinctive variety of  Trachelospermum asiaticum  which is characterized by the combination of a dense canopy of foliage, a prostrate growth habit, a low plant height, a high number of flowers and uniformity and stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosedherein is Trachelospermum asiaticum.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The inventive variety of Trachelospermum asiaticum disclosed herein hasbeen given the variety denomination ‘FT01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct perennial variety ofTrachelospermum asiaticum, which has been given the variety denominationof ‘FT01’. Its market class is PLT/226. ‘FT01’ is intended for use ingeneral landscaping and as a decorative groundcover plant.

Parentage:

The Trachelospermum asiaticum variety ‘FT01’ is a partial plant mutationof common Trachelospermum asiaticum. In February of 2010, the inventordiscovered a branch mutation occurring on a single stock plant of thespecies, Trachelospermum asiaticum, at his wholesale ornamental plantnursery in Dural, New South Wales, Australia. This mutation exhibited adense canopy of foliage, a more prostrate growth habit, a lower plantheight, and a higher number of flowers when compared to the species.Softwood cuttings were harvested from said branch mutation, repotted andallowed to mature in order to confirm the characteristics initiallyobserved and also to evaluate the stability these characteristics. Thecultivar was given the denomination of ‘FT01’.

Asexual Reproduction:

‘FT01’ was first propagated asexually by softwood cuttings in Dural, NewSouth Wales, Australia in February of 2010 and has since been asexuallypropagated by softwood cuttings through five successive generations. Thedistinctive characteristics of the inventive ‘FT01’ variety are stablefrom generation to generation; clones of the variety produced by asexualreproduction maintain the distinguishing characteristics of the originalplant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘FT01’ is a distinctive variety of Trachelospermum asiaticum which ischaracterized by the combination of a dense canopy of foliage, aprostrate growth habit, a low plant height, and a high number offlowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary specimen of an 18 month old ‘FT01’ plant in a400 mm nursery pot, on left, compared to the parent, on right.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary inflorescence of an 18 month old ‘FT01’ plantin a 400 mm nursery pot.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinctvariety of a Trachelospermum asiaticum ornamental plant known as ‘FT01’.Unless indicated otherwise, the descriptions disclosed herein are basedupon observations made from an 18 month old ‘FT01’ plant, produced in a400 mm nursery pot in Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia. Theobserved plant was maintained with granular slow release fertilizer andregularly watered with overhead irrigation. No pest and disease measureswere taken.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, younger plants. ‘FT01’ has not beenobserved under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions,sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to beunderstood that such characteristics are approximations or averages setforth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety mayvary with variations in the environment such as season, temperature,light intensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like. Colornotations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, 2001 edition. Note that genericcolor descriptions such as ‘white’ do not exist in the R.H.S. charts andthe corresponding R.H.S. colors are quoted.

Technical Description of the Variety

-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Perennial sub-shrub or vine; very short height            and prostrate, forming a dense mat of foliage. Exhibits a            vigorous rate of growth.        -   Height.—15 cm at maturity.        -   Width.—150 cm at maturity.        -   Bloom period.—Late spring and throughout summer.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 8 to 11.        -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished using softwood            cuttings. Roots well without rooting compound or hormone.        -   Time to develop roots.—approximately 21 days at 20 degrees            Celsius.        -   Crop time.—Approximately eight to ten months are needed to            produce a well rooted 15 cm nursery pot, starting from a            rooted cutting. Crop time varies with location and            production practices.        -   Pest and disease susceptibility or resistance.—No disease or            pest problems have been observed.        -   Cultural tolerances.—Adapt to a wide range of soil types            except for the most saturated of soil conditions. Prefers            partial shade but adapt to both full sun and heavy shade            when properly maintained. ‘FT01’ has good drought and salt            tolerance, once established.-   Roots: Fibrous root system.-   Stem:    -   -   General habit.—Multiple lateral stems, basally branched and            generally lacking a central stem. Produces a milky exudate            when wounded or cut.        -   Stem strength.—Medium rigidity.        -   Attitude.—Stems are generally horizontal.        -   Stem cross-section.—Round.        -   Stem color.—200A at 10 nodes below the active growing point.        -   Stem dimensions.—Length is variable and up to 150 cm with a            diameter of 2.6 mm, at 10 nodes below the active growing            point.        -   Stem surface.—Rough; young stems are lightly pubescent and            mature stems are glabrous.        -   Internode length.—22 mm, at 10 nodes below the active            growing point.-   Foliage:    -   -   Type.—Deciduous.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Vein color (adaxial surfaces).—145A.        -   Vein color (abaxial surfaces).—indistinguishable from            surrounding foliage.        -   Margins.—Entire.        -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Attachment.—Leathery.        -   Surfaces (adaxial & abaxial surfaces).—Glabrous and glossy.        -   Mature leaf dimensions.—Average length, 55 mm; width is 25            mm.        -   Leaf color (adaxial surface).—139A in both juvenile and            mature leaves.        -   Leaf color (abaxial surface).—145A in both juvenile and            mature leaves.        -   Petiole.—Approximately 5 mm in length; width is            approximately 1.5 mm; color is 145A.        -   Stipules.—absent.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   General.—Axillary and terminal cymes with 2 to 5 flowers per            cymes.        -   Dimensions.—Approximately 75 mm long (including peduncle)            and 40 mm wide.        -   Peduncle.—Peduncle dimensions — Average 50 mm in length and            2 mm in diameter. Peduncle color — 145A. Peduncle strength —            Medium.-   Bud: Shape is oblanceolate; approximately 12 mm in length and 4 mm    in width, color is 155C with base 145D.-   Flower:    -   -   General.—Pedicellate, simple and persistent with each flower            lasting approximately 6 days. Self cleaning. Strong            jasmine-like fragrance.        -   Flower aspect.—Outward to slightly pendulous.        -   Corolla shape.—Campanulate with lower third of the corolla            fused into a tube and the outer two-thirds comprised of            free, equally-spaced petals.        -   Corolla width.—20 mm.        -   Corolla depth.—12 mm.        -   Petal appearance.—Matte, glabrous.        -   Petal arrangement.—Rotate.        -   Petal texture.—Glabrous.        -   Number of petals.—Five in number.        -   Petal shape.—Cuneate; petals are highly revolute near the            apex.        -   Petal margin.—Entire to undulate.        -   Petal apex.—Broad obtuse.        -   Petal base.—Fused; truncate.        -   Petal dimensions.—8.5 mm in length and 7 mm wide, at the            widest point.        -   Petal color when fully opened (upper side).—155C and near 5D            at and near the corolla tube opening.        -   Petal color when fully opened (under side).—155C.        -   Pedicel.—Color is 145A; dimensions are approximately 15 mm            long and 1.5 mm wide; surface is lightly pubescent.        -   Calyx.—Calyx shape — Campanulate; lower half being fused and            upper portion comprised of 5 sepal lobes. Calyx dimensions —            Approximately 9 mm across and 4 mm deep. Sepals — Sepal            appearance — Glossy and smooth. Sepal arrangement — Rotate.            Number of sepal lobes — Five. Sepal lobe shape — Lanceolate.            Sepal lobe margin — Entire. Sepal lobe apex — Acute. Sepal            lobe base — Fused; truncate. Sepal lobe dimensions —            Approximately 4.5 mm from point of fusion to the apex and 3            mm at the widest point.-   Reproductive organs: Not observed.-   Fruit and seed: Not observed.-   Comparisons with parent plant: Plants of the new cultivar ‘FT01’ are    similar to the parent in many horticultural characteristics    including foliage and flower characteristics, general growth habit    and environmental tolerances. However, ‘FT01’ exhibits a very short    plant height when not supported, a denser foliage canopy resulting    from shorter internodal spacing, and a prostrate growth habit    whereas the parent exhibits a tall plant height of approximately 60    cm when not supported, a more open foliage canopy, and an upright    growth habit. Furthermore, ‘FT01’ exhibits a more floriferous bloom    habit by comparison with the parent.-   Comparisons with other commercial trachelospermum: Plants of the new    cultivar ‘FT01’ are comparable to the commercial variety    Trachelospermum asiaticum ‘Minima’ (unpatented) in that both are    said to have a shorter plant height compared to the species.    However, ‘FT01’ exhibits larger leaves, larger flowers and is also    more floriferous when compared to ‘Minima’. Furthermore, ‘FT01’    exhibits a faster rate of growth compared to the growth rate of    ‘Minima’.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety ofTrachelospermum asiaticum plant named ‘FT01’, substantially as describedand illustrated herein.